Myanmar defence chief calls on PM, condemns Amarnath attack

New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) Myanmar Defence Services forces’ Commander-in-Chief U Min Aung Hliang called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Friday and conveyed his country’s condolences to the victims of the terrorist attack on the Amarnath Yatra on Monday that claimed the lives of seven pilgrims

“Condemning the recent terrorist attack on pilgrims of Amarnath Yatra, Senior General U Min Aung Hliang expressed his sincere condolences for the victims of the attack,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

On Monday, a bus carrying 56 pilgrims was on its way way back to Jammu when it came under the attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

On his part, Modi conveyed his condolences at the loss of lives of Myanmar armed forces personnel and their families in the air crash on June 7 this year.

A Shaanxi Y-8 aircraft of the Myanmar Air Force crashed on a flight from Myeik to Yangon, killing all 122 people on board. Debris from the aircraft was later found in the Andaman Sea

The Myanmarese defence chief briefed Modi about bilateral defence and security cooperation, according to the statement.

“The Prime Minister appreciated the close cooperation between the armed forces of India and Myanmar.

“The Prime Minister said that Myanmar is a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy, and expressed his firm commitment to strengthen the bilateral relationship in all areas,” it said.

Even as India is continuing to fight northeastern insurgent groups along the India-Myanmar border, New Delhi is working on key infrastructure projects like India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway and the Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project connecting Sittwe port in Myanmar with Mizoram in India.